The Project

Connecting to the grid

The electricity generated by Lime Down Solar Park will be exported into the existing national electricity transmission system at National Grid’s Melksham substation located approximately 20 kilometres (km) south of the sites just to the north of Melksham and west of the A350.  

Building the connection

We are proposing to build the connection between the solar park, BESS, and the substation by installing underground cable. We are not proposing to use pylons and overhead lines.  

Underground cables can be buried in areas without land restrictions. However, after the land is restored, restrictions may be applied to avoid the risk of cables being disturbed or damaged.  

A sealing end compound will be needed where a section of underground cable comes above ground. For example, where it joins Melksham substation. 

What is a route corridor?

A route corridor is a broad ribbon of land through which an electrical connection could be routed. The corridor may vary in width depending on a range of factors including the location of:

  • Built up areas where people live

  • Infrastructure including roads and railway lines.

  • Physical landscape features as well as other features that may be sensitive in terms of ecology, heritage or landscape

  • Protected sites including nature conservation areas

The route an underground cable connection could take

We have identified three broad cable route corridors an electrical connection between the solar park and Melksham substation could follow:

  • South from the 400kV substation, going across the M4 near Sevington then to the east of Yatton Keynell continuing to run south across the A420, then west of Gastard and east of Corsham until it reaches Melksham substation.

  • South from the 400kV substation, crossing the M4 near Leigh Delamere, before continuing to the west of Kington St. Michael, across the A420, east of Gastard and West of Norton.

  • A route that broadly follows the A350 road having run south from M4 junction 17.

We have selected these route corridors to minimise ecological impact and preserve cultural heritage by avoiding designated ecological areas, mature and historic woodlands, listed buildings, scheduled monuments, and conservation areas. Additionally, we have aimed to reduce their length and the number of crossings over roads, railways, watercourses, and hedgerows as much as possible.

We are now carrying out studies to refine these corridors so we can select one and determine the exact route an underground cable between the solar park and Melksham substation would take.